welling



Nov. 4, 930.v

H. T, MELLING VALVE Filed Junev ll'. 192'7A 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORBYHerbert Ibm/Mailing,

x /I l h l /r /I ATTORNEY N-ov. 4, 1930. H. T. MELLING 1,780,562

I VALVE Filed June ll, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gg I INVENTOR i l l WLMATTORNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1930 ENr ortica l,

Hammam ToivrMiiLLIive, or New YORK, N. Y.

VALVE Application filed .Tune 11,

y My present invention relates generally to valves, and has particularreference to valves which are primarily designed for use in transportsystems forr pulverized solid material.

. Pulverized coal or similar' solid material such as Hour and the like,is generally transported through pipev systems by means of suspensionthereof 'in compressed air. in Valves for employment in such systemsAmust be ola character which are easily operable despite the pressuretherein. Such valves must also be designed to close securely, for even aslight leakage of thesuspended solid 5 material through an` ostensiblyshut-o opening will render it dangerous if not impossible formen to workina chamber, such as a4 hopper or the like,which is presumablyshut-off.v

It is `one object of the present inventionto provide a `valve having`these desirable characteristics. It is another obJectto provide suchavalvewith lubricating means and with a structure which permits thelubrication of the valve parts to be effected despite the dificul-tiespresented by the constant presence of the dry suspended solid material.

En valves which are constructed With a pivotal support whose pivotingmoves avalve inra slidable manner along the internal wall 3( of thevalve body, the'fclosure is hardly lever irmly assuredfor the reasonsthat (a) lu'- brication of the sliding surfaces is impracti-y cablekbecause of the material being conveyed;` (Zi) firm mutual seatingbetween two exten-l sive surfaces is hardly ever possible; and (c) thepulverized" materialconstantly finds Vits way between the sliding'surfaces and thereby 'impairs not only easy sliding but alsofirmcontact. AItis an object of the present in- 'vention to provide afvalvewhereinclosure lis effected in a lirm and sec-ure manner despite thepresence of solid material,V and wherein the problem of lubricationpresented by the disadvantageous structure mentioned above l5 has beenobviated. I

One feature of my invention resides in the provision of a valve whereinthe valve proper is brought into closing or openingv relationship withrespect to a selected opening by movements toward and away from saidopen.-

' interior being shown in cross-section.

1927.- seriai No. 198,030.

ing` as distinguished `from sliding movements with respectthereto.

Other features of my invention lie inthe structural nature whichrendersthe operation'of the valve quick and easy yet highly eficient, andwliichdoes not entail anunreasonabler cost` oi' manufacture;

For the attainment ofthe foregoing objects and'l such other objects asmay hereinlafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated twoembodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which-- n'Fig. 1 is a side View of a valve constructed in accordance withthepresent invention, a portion of the outer wall being broken away toreveal the interior, and a portion of the This ligure also shows in dotand dash lines an alternative positioning of the valve proper: 2 isanjenlarged cross-sectional View ot a portion ot' the interior mechanismdisclosed in Figure l;

Fig,v 3 is a cross-sectional View takenn sub-- stantially along the line3--8 of Fig. l; and

1 F ig. 4 is anenlarged fragmentary crosssectional view of amodification. y

The valves to which my invention relates are generally' of substantiallycylindrical construction, the valve body comprising a casting 10provided with the desired number of outlet or inlet openings. I haveillustra'tively shown afstructure wherein an opening 11 may beconsidered asf theinlet opening,"and wherein openings 12 and 13 may beconsidered alternate outlet openings. The valve shown would therefore bepositionediii a pipeline feeding into the opening '11?, andthe.functionof they valve would be to close one ork the other of the outlet openings1-2 andl. In accordance with vusual d 'esignand requirements, I haveshown the axes of thel openings 12 and 1.3 arranged at an angle of 450to each other.y

Vrl`he ends of the casting 10 are ultimately close-d by end plates 14and 15 fastened thereto by studs 16 or the like.4 Journaled between theend plates 14 and 15 is a pivotal valve guide consistingy essentially ofan integral structure 'which'. embodies' a trunnion 1G.

journaled. in the wall. 15,. atrunnion 17 journaled i sion 18 passingoutwardly through the wall 14. This integral structure is in effect aspindle extending along the axis of the cylindrical wall in which theopenings 11, 12, and 13 are arranged. The medial portion of the valveguide is shaped to define a chamber 19 for housing certainvalve-controlling mechanism. rThe chamber 19 may be considered as therear portion of a radial sleeve 2O designed to accommodate the valvestem of the valve proper.

Before describing the valve in further Adetail, I will point out thatthe valve guide is designed to be pivoted or rotated for pivot-- ing thevalve proper between desired positions. I have shown ahandle 21 suitablyattache-d to the exterior end of the extension 13, and I have shownstops 22 integrally formed upon the wall 14 for limitingy the movementof the control handle 21. It will be understood that the provision ofsuch stops is optional, and that the particular degree of rotation ofthe handle 21 may be varied to suit the requirements of particularvalves. t will also be understood that the ,valve guide may be rotatedor pivoted by other than manual means, as for example by a motor. n

In each of the openings 12 and 13, whose opening and closing isVcontrolled by the valve, I provide a valve seat 23. The valve` properconsists essentially of a forward disc 24 for resting upon a selectedvalve seat, and a valve stem 25 extending rearwardly into the sleeve 20.An essential feature of my invention lies in mounting the valve in thevalve guide in a movable manner, and more particularly in a reciprocablemanner, so that the valve may be raised or lowered with respectto aselected valve seat; and in providing means for exteriorly controllingthis movement or reciprocation of the valve. Although the particularmethod of mountingthe valve in this reciprocable manner is inmanyrespects a matter of choice, and although the particular mechanism forcausing the movement of such a valve is also in many respects a matterof choice, nevertheless'the structure vwhich I have illustrated andwhich I shall now describe has been found to be extremely satisfactoryand to achieve the contemplated purposes in a simpleand eiioientmanner.Y

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, I have shown the valve disc 24provided with a central rear recess 24 for the accommodation of theforward enlarged end 26 of the valve stem. In other words, the valvestem of the present structure is a separate element. A suitable nut orferrule 27 is designed to engage the kouter end of the recess 24 and tohold the enlarged'end 26, and consequently the valve stem itself, inposition.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures n the wall 14, and a trunnionextenway in the interior of the sleeve 20 and to receive a key 30therein.

Rotatably mounted in the sleeve 20 is a threaded member designed toengage the threads of the valve stem 25 and to reciprocate the valvewithin 4vthe sleeve when rotation is eected. In the form illustrated inFigures 1-3, I have shown this-threaded member in the formvof anexternally threaded rod or bolt 31. This member is mounted so as toprevent longitudinal movement thereof, and for this purpose I haveprovided it wit-h a collar 32, a-reduced portion 33 directly to the rearof the collar 32, and a gear 34 acting as a second collar directly tothe rear of the reduced portion 33.

Referring to Figure 3it will be seen that the gear 34 is a beveled gearand is positioned Within the chamber 19. IvIesliing therewith is arelatively Ylarger beveled gear 35 mounted upon the interior end of acontrol shaft 36 which extends outwardly through an axial bore in thetrunnion extension 18. At the exterior end of the control 'sha t 36 Ihave provided a control lever 37 whose manipulation will rotate the gear35 and hence the rotatable member 31.

In Figure 4 I- have illustrated a modification wherein the valve stem 25is not interiorly threaded as in the previous construction but isprovided with an exteriorly 'threaded extension 33.

This extension is engaged by a vthreaded member 31 which is interiorlythreaded asA distinguished from the exterior threading of the member 31.In this modification, the member 3l is also provided with a collar 32',a reduced adjacent portion 33, and a gear 34 fulfilling the purpose of asecond collar. Figure 4 illustrates one way of attaching the gear to therotatable member, i. e., by means of a nut 39 engaging the exterior ofthe upper end of the rotatable threaded member 31 or 31. In themodification of Figure 4, it will be obvious that the rotation of thegear l35 will cause rotation but not longitudinal movement of therotatable member 31.

' 'Referring aga-in to Figure 2, and particularly to the valve seat 23,it will be noted that I have shown the valve seat provided with anannular rib 40 having a convexly curved outer surface. This rib is inthe path of a flat annular seating surface 41 provided upon the valvedisc 24. I have illustratively shown the flat seating surface 41provided upon an insert 42 constructed of suitable material.

In Figure 2 it will also `be noted .that th@- forward face 43 of thevalvev stem is conyvexly curved and contacts at its center withpulverized material is providedV from the in` let opening 11 through thevalve and through they outlet opening 13. The only impedance to thisfree `passage is the valveguide or trunnion construction whichl extendsbetween the'l opposite walls 14 andy 15, butv this structure practicallyno'vlarger than any ordinary trunnion would be fork pivoting a valveproper ywithin the valve body. `Whenit is desired to. .open the outletopening 12. and close the opening`13,"the control lever 37 .is-first rovtatedy for the purpose of raising the valve fromitsseat. The rotation ofthe lever 37 is transmitted through the control shaftv 36 to the gear35,,thenceto the gear 34and the rotatable member 3l.` The rotation ofthe l member `3,1 'causes the valve stem 25 to retract into the sleeve20, and-,thereby the valve disc 24 is'raised from the seat 23. The valveis raised only a slight amount sullicient to permitits subsequentpivotalyfmovement within the valveb,ody,andl where .the-gears andthreads are properly designed vthe control lever `37 need only be movedthrough a rela tively small arc. n f y y The valve havingbeen raised,fromv its seat, the control lever 21 is thrown vfrom thefpojsitionshown vin igure-l to the dotted -line position of Figure This movementis trans? mitted through thetrunnion extension 18-to the valve guidestructurewithin the valve body, andthe entire chamber 19, sleeve 20,

and accordingly the -valve stem and valve itself, are swung through anarcinto operative relationship with respect to the opening Thereupon,the control leverl37 is again op erated to expel the valve stem 25 fromthe sleeve 20.and thereby position the valve into a seating relationship`with respect to the valve seat 23in the opening 13. At this time, theconveXity of the surface 43 will permit the valve to adjust itselfsecurely and properly'upon the valve. seat 23.

f This .entire manipulation may be effected with great 4ease despitetheexistence within the valve body ef a considerable pressure. It will benoted that no sliding movement is relied upon to seat the valve, andaccordingly no problems oflfriction or faulty seating are presented,Furthermore the ,merisier 0f' 'the rib 40, uheh eslab1-i.Shes` e .lineeen tact betweenv the valve` seat .and theivalve Vseatingsurface,'assures a tight closure without any possibility ofdrypulverized solid material interfering with the proper seating, Forthe kpurpose of effecting a proper lub: rication4 of thel vinternalparts, and particularly the valve stem; and for the added purf pose offprOtQCting this lubricating `material from the' pulverized materialexisting in the valve body, Ihaveprovided packing means and lubricatingmeans which I shall now describe.` n l, -v

.The trunnion 16 is provided with a bore 45Y kwhichextends` from the endof the ,trun-` nio-n into the chamber 19. This bore registers -with asmall opening 46 in the wall 15.

The opening 46 may normally bev sealed or closed kby a suitable plug,and 'when it is ole-` sired to" .force i grease or other lubricatingmaterial into theinterior ofthe chamber 19, the .plug is removed and thebore 45 affords a" suitable passage. `Av suitable' lining 47 is providedin association with the trunnion V16 sothat nolubricatingvmaterialmaylind its way through the bearing intothe valvefpbody, and similarly,no material fromfthe valve body can find its way into the Ypassage 45.-

g-Packing and' bushings are also provided wherever necessary, as at theVpoints 48,` behind the gear 35, and atthe points49, between.thetrunnion 17 `j and the wall 14. A gland 5.0, together withsuitablepacking 51 is arranged around the trunnion extension 18 as it passesythroughthe wall'14.

The"lubricatingmaterial forced into the chamber 19 .will worksitswaydownwardly into thesleevef20, and the only point requiring protectionisthat at which the valve stern 25 projects from the sleeve At thispoint Iprefer to provide a felt washer 52 or thelike upon the end of thesleeve 20, and to holdthis washerin place a suitable cap 53 is attachedto the 'sleeve 2.0. Theopposite yopenV ends of the chamber 19 aresuitably sealed and closed` after' the interior elements have beenassembled, by means of plates or may be deemed desirable.

lt `willbe'obvious that the particular ar,- rangernentof openings in thevalve bodyis independentof the (essential nature of my inwalls V54 andwhatever lining or *packingk leo iis j vention. .E or example, `a valveseat 23might.

be arranged in the opening 11, and the stops 22 may be s o `positionedthat the opening-11 may itselfbe closed whenever it is .desiredto shutthe opening 11 itself. Furthermore, it" will be understood that thelreciprocatin f movement ofthe valve `may be effected by other means., asfor example by meansof a piston and cylinder. Thus, the chamber 19 andthe sleeve `20 might be constructed to consti-l tute a cylinder, asuitable piston might be mounted therein in connection with the valvestemt-25:, and by means ofports or passages through the trunnionextension 18, the piston might be operated from the exterior oi thedevice to actuate the valve. Similarly, a springA might be soarrangedwith respect to the valve stein or valve as to hold the latterin a normal position, and thel movement of an exterior control leverniight'be made to actuate a cam or the like for forcing Ythe valve stemor'valve in a longitudinal direction against the normal action of thespring. Or, in place of the gears 34 and 35, a pinion and rack might beprovided for achieving the same purpose.

In general, it will be obvious that many changes in the details hereindescribed and illustrated tor, the purpose of explaining the nature ofmy invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit'andscope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims. therefore intended that these details be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense; Y

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimnew and desire toy secure by Letters Patent isl. In a transport valvefor pulverized material, the combination with a valve body whichincludes a substantially cylindrical wall having larr'inlet and at leasttwo outlet openings therein, of a`valve seat arranged in each opening, apivotable valve guide in said bodyfand wholly clear of said wall'andincludinga trunnion carrying a radial sleeve, a valve reciproc'allylmounted'in said guide and including a valve stem Yextending into saidsleeve, means for pivoting lsaid guide to positionthe valve intooperative relationship with a selected opening, and means forreciprocating said valve to raise andlower itr with respect to the valveseat in said opening.' 1 'Y 2. vIn a transport valve V"for pulverizingmaterial, the combination with a valve body which includes asubstantially cylindrical wall having an inlet and vat least two outletopenings therein, ofk a valve/seat arranged in each opening, apivotablevalve guide in said body and wholly clear ofjsaid wall and including atrunnion carrying a radial sleeve, a valve reciprocally mounted in saidguide and includingfa valve stem extending intoY said sleeve, means 'forpivoting said guide to position the valve into operative relationshipwith a selected opening, andmeans for reciprocating said valve to raiseand lower it with respect tothe valve seat in said opening, said lastnamed means including mechanism arranged in said sleeve and engagingsaid valve stem.V e

i 3. In a transport valve for pulverized mate'rial,-the combination witha valve body which' includes a substantially cylindrical wallhavinganiinlet and at least two outlet openings therein, of 'a valveseat arranged in each opening, a pivotable valve guide in said body andwholly clear oi said wall and including trunnion carrying a radialsleeve, a valve reciprocally mounted inv said guide and including iLhreaded valve stem extending into said sleeve, means for pivoting saidguideV to position the valve into operative relationship with a selectedopening, and neans for reciprocating said valve to raise and lower itwith respect to the valve seat in said opening, said last named meansincluding a threaded member in said sleeve and engaging said threadedvalve stem.

4:. In a transport valve for pnlverized material,'tlie. ycombinationwith a valve body which includes a substantially cylindrical wall havingan inlet and at least two outlet openings therein, of a valve seatarranged in each opening, a pivotable valve guide in said body andwholly clear of said wall and including a trunnion carrying a radialsleeve, a valve reciprocally mounted in said guide and including athreaded valve stem splined in said sleeve, means for pivoting saidguide to position the valve into operative relationship-with a selectedopening, and means for reciprocating said valve to raise and lower itwith respect to the valve seat in said opening, said last named meansincluding a rotatable threaded member in said sleeve and engaging saidthreaded valver stem.

5. In a transport valve for pulverized material, the combination with avalve body which includes a substantially cylindrical wall having aninlet and at least two outlet openings therein', ofa valvey seatarranged in each opening, a pivotable valve guide in said body andwholly clear of said wall and including a trunnion carrying a radialsleeve, a valve reciprocally mounted in said guide Vand including avalve stem extending into said sleeve, means for pivoting said guide toposition thev valve into operative relationship with a'selected opening,and means for reciprocating said valveto raise and lower it with respectto the valve seat inV said onening, said last named means includingmechanism arranged in said sleeve and engaging said valve stem, and acontrol shaft extending from the interior of said sleeve to the exteriorof the valve body for externally controlling the operation of'saidmechanism.

6. Ina transport valve for pulverized material, the combination with avalve body which includes a substantially cylindrical wall having aninlet and at least two outlet openings therein, of a valve seat arrangedin each opening, a pivotable valve guide in said body and wholly clearof said wall and including a trunnion carrying a radialsleeve, a valvereciprocally mounted in said guide and including a valve stem extendinginto said sleeve, means for pivoting said guide to position the valveinto operative relationship with a selected opening, mechanism in saidsleeve and engaging said valve stem forV reciprocating the valve toraise and lower it Witlirespect to the valve seat in said openn ing, andmeans for supplying lubricating` material 'from the exterior of the bodyto the interior of saidsleeve. n

7. In a transport valve for pulverized material, the combination with avalve body which includes a substantially cylindrical wall having aninlet and at least two outlet openings therein, of a valve seat arrangedin each opening, a pivotable valve guide in said l body Vand whollyclear of said wall and including a trunnion carrying a radial sleeve,said trunnion having a bore communicating from the end of the trunnionto the interior of the sleeve, a valve reciprocally mounted in said yguide and including va `valve stem extending into said sleeve, means forpivoting said guide to position the valve into operative relationshipwith a selected open-k ing, means movable with the trunnion forwallhaving aninlet and at least two outlet openings therein, of a valve seatarranged in each opening, a pivotable valve guide in said body andwholly clear of said Wall and including a trunnion carrying aradialsleeve, said trunnion having an, axially bored Vex-V tensionpassing out of the valve body, a valve reciprocally mounted in saidguide and including a valve stem extending into said sleeve, means forrotating said trunnion extension to pivot the valve guide and positionthe valve into operative relationship with a selected opening,lmechanism in said sleeve and engaging said valve stem for reciprocatingthe valve, and means for controlling the operation of said mechanismfrom the exterior of the valve body, said last named means comprising acontrol shaft extendin through said trunnion extension into s-ai sleeve.

9. In a transport valve `for pulverized material, the combination with avalve body which includes a substantially cylindrical wall having aninlet and at least two outlet openings therein, of a valve seat arrangedin each opening, a pivotable valve guide in said body and wholly clearof said wall and including a trunnion having an axially bored extension:passing out of the valve body, a valve movably mounted in said guide,means for'rotating said trunnion extension to pivot movement of saidvalve in said guide, said last named means including a'control shaftextending out of they valve body through said v trunnionV extension.

l0. A transport valve for pulverized solid `material comprising a valvebody, a valve carrier rotatablyy mounted therein and clear of all wallsof the body whichk do not cross the 'axis of rotation, a yvalve guidemounted on said carrier and clear of all walls of the valve body, avalve mounted in saidguide for radially reciprocal movement with respectto said axis, ineansffor` rotating said carrier, means for reciprocatingsaid valve, and means for Lsupplying lubricating material from theexterior of the body to the interior of said guide.

11. In a transport valve for pulverized material, a valve body whichincludes a substantially cylindrical wall having inlet and outletopenings therein, a valve includin a valve stem within the body andreciproca le outwardsand inwards with respect to said wall, ankkadjustable valve carrier clear of l said wall and supporting said valveand including a radial sleeve enclosing said valve stem, means exteriorof theevalve body for adjustingsaid carrier so as to position the valveinto or out of operative relationship with Vrespect to a selectedopening, whereby adjustment of said carrier may be efected without` anyfrictional contact between'it or the valve and said wall, and means yforsupplying lubricating material from the exterior of the valve body tothe'interior of said sleeve'. e e

Inl witness whereof, I have signed this specication this9tli day ofJune, 1927.

yHERBERT TOM MELLING.

the valve guide and position the valve into K

